escalator etiquette

Every once in a while the subject for this posting has crossed my mind however when sitting down to type the thought escapes me. Seeing as how it's "Friday Light" and I have nothing better to write about I will vent my thoughts/frustration here in the hopes that one by one, the word will get out. Please feel free to spread the gospel especially if you live in LA LA LAND.

STAND ON THE RIGHT

I know we all were taught this at some point in our lives - that you stand on the RIGHT, allowing those who wish to pass to do so on the LEFT. I have encountered absolutely NO ONE in LOS ANGELES that follows this basic rule. One would think that in this health conscious society any extra calories burned would be welcome however I find that to not be the case. Although when I visited D.C. last April I thought I had died and gone to heaven, because 95% of escalator riders in that city have been trained by the commuter politico elite on the correct escalator etiquette. Bliss, pure bliss I was in.

DON'T STOP AT THE END OF THE RIDE

This is probably the number one reason why I usually look for the stairs alternate when faced with having to take a crowded escalator. That and the fact that it's too much hassle kicking everyone in the back of the legs as I try to get by. Why in the world do people get to the end of the escalator ride and then STOP to survey their surroundings as if they just stepped into the colorized version of The Wizard of Oz??? KEEP MOVING people!!!

OK, I'm done, that is all for now. Those are the 2 major points I'd like to get across. I'm sure there are other rules out there like "don't ride with strollers" and "hold onto the handrail" that people should adhere to as well but I won't go there. Let the big bad machines eat you or lurch you forward into an uncontrolled tailspin, all will be good as long as I can pass freely on the LEFT.

x

by the way, many thanks to stopdesign for the insanely beautiful picture.

Comments

[jim]

i ran into this problem just last night.

but then i walked up another escalator, felt my knees about to explode, and remembered why it sometimes works to my advantage.

my more frequent peeve is the families with strollers that meander up 4th street walking shoulder-to-shoulder when i'm trying to get somewhere.

or how about everyone trying to crowd into the gold line trains at union station the second they arrive...

[shannon]

we could play this little game forever couldn't we?

[Lisa]

Poor Sha-na-na... hating escalators big time ;) No worries - i'll kick ass if anyone doesn't let you pass by!

[shannon]

lisa...you know of my escalator "issues" big time...thanks for dealing with my crazy self!!